SPELT OR DINKEL 327 



the glumes and the " Vesen " or husked grain is almost always sown, 

 the germinating capacity of samples of the free caryopses being usually 

 not more than 30 or 40 per cent on account of the bruising sustained in 

 the process of removing them from the husk. 



The seed is commonly broadcasted at the rate of 5*5-6-1 hectolitres 

 or 220 to 250 kg. of husked grain per hectare (about 190-220 Ibs. per 

 acre), the smaller amount being employed in the case of the spring 

 varieties which tiller well. 



It is usually drilled at a depth of i| to 2^ inches in rows from 7 to 8 

 inches apart. 



On account of the ease with which the ears break off the straw, the 

 crop is best cut with the sickle before the ears are fully ripe after the 

 straw is white. It is harvested during the first half of August in South 

 Germany. The yield is very variable ; in poor mountainous districts 

 it may be as low as 10-15 hectolitres per hectare (about 400-600 Ibs. per 

 acre) ; on better soils it varies from about 40 to 80 hectolitres per hectare 

 (1600-3200 Ibs. per acre), the average for Winter Dinkel in a good season 

 being about 40 hectolitres per hectare ; for spring-sown Dinkel 25 hecto- 

 litres per hectare is a fair crop. 



The " Vesen " or pieces of the broken ears obtained by thrashing 

 the crop are subjected to a light grinding process in order to separate 

 the grain from the closely investing glumes, two rough sandstone mill- 

 stones without the usual grooves being used for the purpose. Where 

 the cultivation of. Dinkel is prevalent such mills are common, and the fact 

 that the growth of this cereal does not spread into new districts is attri- 

 buted to the absence of suitable apparatus for removing the grain from 

 the chaff rather than to the unsuitability of soil or climate. 



The grain when ground yields a flour of medium gluten content 

 especially valuable to the confectioner and pastrycook. Some of it is 

 employed in the preparation of farinaceous foods and puddings, a little 

 only being made into bread. A flour suitable for the latter is sometimes 

 made by grinding Dinkel and Bread Wheat grain together. 



A considerable amount of Dinkel grain is used in South Germany in 

 soups. When wanted for this purpose the ears are cut from the straw 

 when the grain has just passed the milk-ripe stage ; the ears are then 

 dried in an oven and after thrashing are sent to the mill for the removal 

 of the grain from the chaff. 



Occasionally the grain in the husk is fed to horses, and the straw, 

 although somewhat stiffer and coarser than that of ordinary wheat, is 

 useful in a chopped state for horses or as long fodder for cattle ; the 

 chaff can be fed to cattle also, but it should not be given to horses except 

 in small quantities. 



The following comparative composition of (i) Spelt " Vesen " or 



